Other option: use a warm shower to loosen mucus. Breathe in the moist air, then blow each nostril.

For young children, can also use a wet cotton swab to remove sticky mucus.

Medicines for Flu:

Age Limit. Before 4 years, never use any cough or cold medicines. Reason: Unsafe and not approved by the FDA. Also, do not use products that contain more than one medicine.

Cold Medicines. They are not advised. Reason: They can't remove dried mucus from the nose. Nasal washes are the answer.

Decongestants Age Limit: 12 years and older. If saline nose drops don't open the nose, a decongestant may help. A decongestant nose spray such as Afrin is preferred. Decongestants by mouth such as Sudafed are a second choice. Caution: Overuse can cause side effects.

Allergy Medicines. They are not helpful, unless your child also has nasal allergies. They can also help an allergic cough.

No Antibiotics. Antibiotics are not helpful for flu. Antibiotics may be used if your child gets an ear or sinus infection.

Homemade Cough Medicine:

Goal: Decrease the irritation or tickle in the throat that causes a dry cough.

Age 3 months to 1 year: Give warm clear fluids to treat the cough. Examples are apple juice and lemonade. Amount: Use a dose of 1-3 teaspoons 5-15 ml. Give 4 times per day when coughing. Caution: Do not use honey until 1 year old.

Age 1 year and older: Use honey ½ to 1 teaspoon 2-5 ml as needed. It works as a homemade cough medicine. It can thin the secretions and loosen the cough. If you don't have any honey, you can use corn syrup.

Age 6 years and older: Use cough drops to coat the sore throat. If you don't have any, you can use hard candy.

Sore Throat Pain Relief:

Age over 1 year. Can sip warm fluids such as chicken broth or apple juice.

Age over 6 years. Can also suck on hard candy or lollipops. Butterscotch seems to help.

Age over 8 years. Can also gargle. Use warm water with a little table salt added. A liquid antacid can be added instead of salt. Use Mylanta or the store brand. No prescription is needed.

Medicated throat sprays or lozenges are generally not helpful.

Fluids - Offer More:

Try to get your child to drink lots of fluids.

Goal: Keep your child well hydrated.

It also will thin out the mucus discharge from the nose.

It also loosens up any phlegm in the lungs. Then it's easier to cough up.

Note: Fevers less than 102° F 39° C are important for fighting infections.

For all fevers: Keep your child well hydrated. Give lots of cold fluids.

Pain Medicine:

For muscle aches or headaches, give an acetaminophen product such as Tylenol.

Another choice is an ibuprofen product such as Advil.

Use as needed.

Prescription Antiviral Drugs for Influenza:

Antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu are sometimes used to treat influenza. They must be started within 48 hours of when flu symptoms start. After 48 hours of fever, starting the drug is not helpful.

The AAP recommends they be used for any patient with severe symptoms. They also recommend the drugs for most High-Risk children. See that list in Causes.

The AAP doesn't recommend antiviral drugs for Low-Risk children with normal flu symptoms.

Their benefits are limited. They reduce the time your child is sick by 1 to 1 ½ days. They reduce the symptoms, but do not make them go away.

Side effects: Vomiting in 10% of children on Tamiflu.

Most healthy children with flu do not need an antiviral drug.

Return to School:

Spread is rapid, and the virus is easily passed to others.

The time it takes to get the flu after contact is about 2 days.

Your child can return to school after the fever is gone for 24 hours.

Your child should feel well enough to join in normal activities.

What to Expect:

Influenza causes a cough that lasts 2 to 3 weeks.

Sometimes your child will cough up lots of phlegm mucus. The mucus can be gray, yellow or green. This is normal.

Coughing up mucus is very important. It helps protect the lungs from pneumonia.

We want to help a productive cough, not turn it off.

The fever lasts 2 to 3 days.

The runny nose lasts 7 to 14 days.

Prevention: How to Protect Yourself From Getting Sick:

Wash hands often with soap and water.

Alcohol-based hand cleaners also work well.

Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Germs on the hands can spread this way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Avoid ERs and urgent care clinics if you don't need to go. These are places where you are more likely to be exposed to flu.

Prevention: How to Protect Others - Stay Home When Sick:

Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

Wash hands often with soap and water. After coughing or sneezing are important times.

Limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Stay home from school for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone. CDC.

Flu Shot and Prevention:

Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect your family from flu.

Yearly influenza vaccines are strongly advised for all children over 6 months of age. AAP

Adults should also get the shot.

The shot most often prevents the disease.

Even if your child gets the flu, the shot helps to reduce the symptoms.

Call Your Doctor If:

Breathing becomes hard or rapid

Retractions pulling in between the ribs occur

Dehydration occurs

Earache or sinus pain occurs

Fever lasts more than 3 days

Nasal discharge lasts more than 14 days

Cough lasts more than 3 weeks

You think your child needs to be seen

Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Copyright 1994-2015 Barton D. Schmitt, MD. All rights reserved.

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